IT Qualifications?

D

DanteWilhelm

Bright Spark
I should put my knowledge of computers to good use.


Which qualification should I go for? I was thinking a specialist one, where I can fix PCs, earn loads of money doing something I like and have a knowledge of.


I'd say I know enough to give me a headstart, more to do with software and fixing problems within the OS than modifying parts although I have done some replacement of parts and know what everything is inside the PC.


I don't want to do a national diploma where you spend 2 years learning just about programs, doing spreadsheets and whatever. I don't want an IT qualification so I can work in an office or anything like that.


What would you guys suggest? Is the Windows 7 Desktop Support course any good?
 
Frenchy

Frenchy

Prolific Poster
Funnily enough computing is one of those professions where legally you dont need any qualifications to call yourself a computer engineer. Its a bit rubbish really, becuase certain people end up giving people like me a bad name. For example the people who designed Heathrow terminal 5, no qualifications and not part of BCS or any other recognised society. Ballsed it all up and gave programmers a bad name.

I would say if you want to be hands on fixing OS's etc, do two things, either get into a company that fixes computers or do it as ur own business (just to get as much experience as possible) and at the same time do a microsoft or cisco qualification, depending on your interests. Then you should think about consulting jobs, for example Red Hat and IBM are both massive players in consulatitve work in IT industry. Infact a company like IBM, the majority of their money comes from consultative work.
 
Frenchy

Frenchy

Prolific Poster
if your wondering money terms, I was offered a job with a large consultancy company a while back, I was just a grad, but had the best marks in my class and was nominated for best european student of the year. They offered me a 50K starting salary. Consultancy is deffinately well paid if you put the effort in to get qualified. And always worth being part of IEEE or BCS
 
D

DanteWilhelm

Bright Spark
Frenchy said:
if your wondering money terms, I was offered a job with a large consultancy company a while back, I was just a grad, but had the best marks in my class and was nominated for best european student of the year. They offered me a 50K starting salary. Consultancy is deffinately well paid if you put the effort in to get qualified. And always worth being part of IEEE or BCS
Click to expand...

OK well I see it as a ladder and I'm willing to put the effort in at the bottom because regardless I will have

a) a job in a field im interested in
b) some god dam money



i'm 20 now and i was wondering how did you get qualified? i don't like the idea of going to uni for 3 years so if you could tell me what you did that would be great!
 
Gorman

Gorman

Author Level
You lost me when you put "IT" and "loads of money" in the same post.

I did most of my training on the job and going in for certs with MS etc as and when i needed them. I also did the cisco stuff out of hours. The vast majority of it has been through work though especially the telecoms stuff in the beginning.

I would say if you want to be hands on fixing OS's etc, do two things, either get into a company that fixes computers or do it as ur own business (just to get as much experience as possible) and at the same time do a microsoft or cisco qualification, depending on your interests. Then you should think about consulting jobs, for example Red Hat and IBM are both massive players in consulatitve work in IT industry. Infact a company like IBM, the majority of their money comes from consultative work.
Click to expand...

Thats basically the route you want to take. As an industry though i reckon <5% who work in IT are actually on over £25k, generally its not a well paid career unless you do something special.

Unless
 
D

DanteWilhelm

Bright Spark
Gorman said:
You lost me when you put "IT" and "loads of money" in the same post.

I did most of my training on the job and going in for certs with MS etc as and when i needed them. I also did the cisco stuff out of hours. The vast majority of it has been through work though especially the telecoms stuff in the beginning.



Thats basically the route you want to take. As an industry though i reckon <5% who work in IT are actually on over £25k, generally its not a well paid career unless you do something special.

Unless
Click to expand...


hey, thanks for your reply.


i'm not deluded don't worry, just optimistic and of course the other things i said are more important, i.e doing something i have an interest in.


I'd happily make less money doing a job which interests me, and even on a basic wage, as long as I can have a life and progress eventually I don't mind I'd just be happy to be earning A wage right now.



so about unless, do you mean installing systems into banks? that's where the megabucks is right?



I was looking at microsoft qualifications, so the course is all at home? are you guaranteed a job or a referred to an employer? I just need as much info as I can.

So I should contact a company which fixes pcs? would they be willing to train someone?
 
D

DanteWilhelm

Bright Spark
as you can see i don't know anything about the industry or the type of work or anything inbetween.


but what I do have is an attitude of not letting a computer beat me, I like challenges, I like fixing things, I like creating things.

I am obsessed with technology and I always go further and look at the production side of things.
 
Frenchy

Frenchy

Prolific Poster
DanteWilhelm said:
i'm 20 now and i was wondering how did you get qualified? i don't like the idea of going to uni for 3 years so if you could tell me what you did that would be great!
Click to expand...

Lol well im sorry to say but ive done 8 years at university. I did a degree in Aeronautical Engineering at Southampton university, and did a degree in Computer Science after aswell, now about to do my Doctorate in Multi Agent Systems.

Gorman, I guess I tend to think more of software engineering when I was talking about the pay, rather than strict IT. Average starting salary for a computer science graduate is about 23K I believe. With a first class honours degree, you can expect to be on around £30K or about 40 - 45K in London. But this is doing consultancy or software dev / testing.
 
D

DanteWilhelm

Bright Spark
I was at southampton solent, wrong course :( and completely different career path although it did involve computers.


so, i really don't want to go to uni, especially with increased prices, not being able to afford it, being in debt etc all that rubbish.


what about the microsoft courses? are they beneficial? are you gauranteed a job with them, I'd just like to see how people have gotten on in life after doing them.


Im willing to train, and to study but I want something at the end.


i went to college for three years and nothing, i want something to go onto afterwards, definitely don't want to waste time away and not be earning money.
 
Corfate

Corfate

Author Level
Im interested in repairing PC's as a job after Sixth Form, so i'll be keeping a close eye on this thread... I was thinking of doing an apprenticeship or something :cool:
 
Frenchy

Frenchy

Prolific Poster
DanteWilhelm said:
I was at southampton solent, wrong course :( and completely different career path although it did involve computers.


so, i really don't want to go to uni, especially with increased prices, not being able to afford it, being in debt etc all that rubbish.
Click to expand...

Ahhh you went to the destitute :D lol

Um I know people wont like me for saying this, but people really need to stop complaining about the rise in tuition fees, im not pointing finger at you, I just mean in general. All I hear is "oh no my parents cant afford it, its really unfair" at the end of the day, the new system being brough in is actually better than the old system and the majority of people wont ever pay most of the loan back anyway.

The new system means that you dont actually tke on any debt till after your course, at which point yes you get 3 years worth of potentially 9K fees, however, you don start paying it back till you earn over 21K, the repayment rates are lower than they are currently, and if you have the debt for more than 30 years it gets wiped off.

I see it as a really good thing, because it will make people think, hang on, is this degree actually going to give me the education needed to get the job I want, or is there actually a better way to go about it. For example other courses, apprenticeships etc.

Anyway rant over.

I know uni isnt for everyone, and I respect your decision to not go back, but make sure its for the right reasons, if you dont want to go back because of money, then take on what I just said, because believe it or not you are actually in a better position than current students. If you diont want to go back because you dont think its right for you, then fair enough.

Microsoft courses are very good, I am completely software though and all the courses ive looked at have been network type stuff, there are plenty of courses out there though.
 
Corfate

Corfate

Author Level
Sorry to ask this on this thread, but i don't want to make another thread.. :(

Would anybody recommend an apprentiship in repairing computers/networking? As i've found a few.. "The job will entail meeting with members of the public in the shop and giving advice, computer repairs and computer networking.

Duties include:

locating hard/software faults
diagnose computer faults
PC repairs for customers
networking infrastructures
cabling installations"
Says i will receive an "NVQ Level 2 in Customer Service" Is this useful in the big big world?


Also:
Main Aim: BTEC Level 2 Diploma in Professional Competence for IT & Telecoms Professionals.

Assessed in the work place and provides skills development and experience.

Sub Aim: Level 2 Award* in Communications Cabling – Fibre Optics & Data Communications

Training centre based component, designed to provide a working knowledge of the effects of installation and diagnostic assessment within a telecommunications and cabling infrastructure (off-the-job component, negotiable with employer)

BTEC Award in Workskills for effective learning & employment

Added value: Level 2 Award in ICT Systems & Principles

Once again, sorry to ask this on your thread!
 
Last edited:
D

DanteWilhelm

Bright Spark
of course! look at frenchy's first post on the first page, it mentions to start off fixing PCs, or someone's post did.


that seems like a great apprenticeship, i want to do it!


bro don't be sorry, post away :p those qualfications look great that will help you out a lot.
 
D

DanteWilhelm

Bright Spark
I can't find any apparenticeship jobs near me :(


i live in the south west of england, in wiltshire.


i wouldn't mind PC repair, since somebody suggested it and now from that guy's post I can see the benefits qualfication wise it seems like a really good place to start
 
Corfate

Corfate

Author Level
DanteWilhelm said:
of course! look at frenchy's first post on the first page, it mentions to start off fixing PCs, or someone's post did.


that seems like a great apprenticeship, i want to do it!


bro don't be sorry, post away :p those qualfications look great that will help you out a lot.
Click to expand...

Haha! Cheers! I'll make sure i don't spam it though ;)

I'd love to do that one, but i've just started my last year at Sixth form.. Thought it'd be better to finish my A-Levels off first, then i'd have a better start :) Hopefully they keep that vacation open next year too :)

Well, i wish you the best in finding something DanteWilhelm :)
 
D

DanteWilhelm

Bright Spark
hey thanks, you too!


well i found one for satcom, in my area, closing date is today...



only just found a website, apprenticeships.org


it was for junior it support engineer, i think.

definitely going to look into this


best of luck with your a level exams!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top